We’re celebrating the county music great’s birthday by previewing a holiday-appropriate single from his upcoming album Songs I Missed.
Country music star Moe Bandy — whose 81st birthday we are celebrating today — is the first to admit that he’s missed out on some big hits. Indeed, on his last album, Moe Bandy: Live from the Country Music Cruise, he actually recorded a medley of tunes he turned down — before they became hits for other people. You’ve probably heard of some of them: “Amarillo By Morning,” “All My Exes Live in Texas,” and “He Stopped Loving Her Today.” At the end of the cut, Bandy comically comments on his own short-sightedness: “D’oh!”
On his forthcoming album Songs I Missed, Bandy has included a whole bunch of covers, including one that’s altogether appropriate for release this Valentine’s Day: “Pure Love,” the Eddie Rabbit-penned song that was a major hit for Ronnie Milsap back in 1974. It’s one of several golden oldies that Bandy wanted to put his stamp on this time out.
“For this album,” Bandy told C&I, “I went back in and picked out some of my favorite songs that I've been listening to for years. And I named the album Songs I Missed, which means that those songs were out there. I could have cut ‘em, but I didn’t. And some of ‘em were pitched to me and I turned them down. But a lot of those old standards I played in the bars and honky tonks years ago, and I’ve always wanted to record some of those songs. And so we did. And I’m very proud this album.”
Among the other highlights on Songs I Missed: “I recorded ‘He Stopped Loving Her Today,’ because I wanted to do a 45th anniversary of that song. And of course, I didn't want to step on George Jones’ version — there's no way I could cut it like him. But I did my version, and I really enjoyed singing. It’s one of my favorite songs. And we did ‘Amarillo by Morning’ and ‘Does Fort Worth Ever Cross Your Mind?’ — which, as I’ve said, were pitched to me, and I turned them down for some reason.
“One of the brightest things I’ve ever done in my life, actually,” he added self-mockingly. “But not very bright.”
As for “Pure Love: “Well, I’ve always liked that song. A good peppy, a positive song. I thought Ronnie Millsap’s version was terrific, of course. But I wanted to go back and sing it for the fun of it. And we’re already doing it at shows and everything. Like I say, a good, peppy song.”
Here is Moe Bandy’s irresistibly upbeat version of “Pure Love,” which will be available starting Valentine’s Day for purchase or streaming online.
